78

70

81.9

82.0

83.7

.550

.570

0.0%

4.0%

4.0%

-3.9%

-43.8%

The Rays offense may be, technically speaking, bad, but they're certainly efficient. How many runs do three singles equate to? For the Rays last night the answer was five.

2

78

69

78.6

80.6

80.9

.541

.561

18.1%

6.0%

24.2%

2.8%

-16.5%

Before we start a controversy, maybe we should ask if Miguel Cabrera even wants to be MVP. Maybe he prefers a bit of anonymity.

3

76

71

75.4

74.0

74.1

.509

.489

0.1%

11.3%

11.4%

-2.5%

-7.1%

If the Dodgers are trying to start a reality show this is an odd way of going about doing it.

4

81

67

82.1

84.2

85.6

.562

.582

1.5%

32.7%

34.2%

4.5%

-5.2%

We can talk about other non-Trout MVP candidates if you like, but just as long as you understand they won't win anything.

5

84

63

81.4

78.3

79.2

.549

.569

10.5%

71.6%

82.1%

-7.6%

-3.7%

The A's are a game up in the Wild Card and only three back of Texas for the AL West division lead, but if I were Texas I wouldn't worry because Billy Beane hasn't ever won anything.

6

74

73

72.4

72.9

70.7

.493

.473

0.0%

1.7%

1.7%

-2.0%

-3.7%

Dear Yankees, Many thanks for A.J. He's been oh so helpful this season. If you could kindly ship Derek or CC over (while paying their salaries) well, we sure would appreciate it. Many thanks, Pittsburgh Pirates.

7

74

74

73.3

76.1

75.7

.505

.485

0.0%

0.4%

0.4%

-0.3%

-1.4%

Ryan Howard has a .709 OPS but that's all right because he's only coming off major surgery and will be paid $20 million this year.

8

87

60

85.1

89.8

88.4

.596

.615

88.0%

11.8%

99.7%

-0.2%

-0.2%

The Rangers better have more talent because they're probably going to get out-coached again.

9

66

83

64.4

67.1

68.0

.446

.426

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

At first it was thought that Jose Reyes committed the 500,000th error in MLB history, but later it was learned that no, actually it was Reyes' 500,000th error.

10

89

57

87.3

88.6

86.9

.602

.583

97.8%

2.2%

100.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Waiting for the playoffs to start is an uncomfortable feeling for Washingtonians who are used to getting around to the playoffs after having eaten too much, knowing that their team couldn't be further from the middle of it all.

11

66

79

68.7

64.4

66.1

.457

.477

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Lowest ERA in the AL over the past four years, and over the past three years? You guessed it. Ol' 41-year-old Darren Oliver

12

61

87

62.2

64.6

64.4

.426

.446

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

The Twins have announced that they are going to build a new state-of-the-art stadium. "It's going to be a huge dome," said a spokesman. "So lots of people can come and enjoy Twins baseball in any weather." Asked what the new park will be called the spokesman replied, 'Well it'll be in the metro area and it'll be a dome, so I'm sure we'll come up with something.'

13

66

81

67.8

70.9

73.0

.472

.453

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

It's not very sabermetric to say but sometimes it seems that whoever puts on a Mets jersey will have his career careen off into a sidewall, flip a tree and end up in a creek.

14

70

79

70.2

68.2

69.9

.467

.487

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

An 18-inning game on a Tuesday night by a non-contending team? You have to admire the Mariners' moxie, which, I think, is a soda. You have to admire the Mariners' soda.

15

66

81

68.8

65.0

65.0

.450

.470

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

If you rearrange the letters in "Hochevar" and add some others and subtract the unnecessary ones you can spell "Massive disappointment."

16

48

100

52.0

52.1

52.1

.345

.327

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

The Astros lost their 100th game. They have 14 to go so they can't catch the 119-loss 2003 Tigers. Better luck next year, guys!

17

58

89

63.6

60.0

59.8

.411

.391

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Breaking News: the Rockies have been searching for a lost Dan O'Dowd since 2009, they just haven't been able to find him.

18

68

81

72.8

75.4

75.7

.490

.510

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Now that the Red Sox are officially eliminated from the playoffs we can all say what we really think of them.

19

61

87

55.8

60.4

61.5

.403

.423

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

While on a hospital visit Monday, Manager Manny Acta met a sick kid. Asked what he wished for, the kid whispered, "Please Mr. Acta, use 10 pitchers in a game." Last night little Timmy got his wish. Get well soon, Timmy. Get well soon.

20

89

59

83.1

80.7

78.0

.559

.539

100.0%

0.0%

100.0%

0.0%

0.0%

Homer Bailey pitched a great game, but he was helped out by catcher Droppy Johnson and manager Nutso Jackson and was picked up by closer Balky Walk-Smith. With good teams, it's always a team effort.

21

58

90

61.4

57.7

58.0

.397

.378

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

The Cubs are such copycats. The Reds get a Chapman and he throws really hard so the Cubs have to get one too. Jaye Chapman's fastball averages 90 mph. Nice try, Cubs!

22

71

77

69.7

70.3

69.3

.474

.454

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

0.0%

It sounds strange to say, but the Padres actually have a few very good hitters. Not that you'd ever know it by looking at the stats they compiled in that opposite-of-steroids ballpark.

23

73

74

76.8

77.2

77.0

.517

.497

0.0%

1.8%

1.8%

0.2%

0.2%

The Diamondbacks are 11-15 since trading Stephen Drew. They're also 11-15 since a black cat used Kirk Gibson's mint dish as a litter box. After therefore because of, people.

24

85

64

83.7

82.4

82.6

.560

.540

2.2%

97.8%

100.0%

0.0%

0.5%

Oh stop worrying. As long as the Braves have Greg Maddux and Tommy Glavine they'll be fine. Wow am I tired.

25

85

63

79.3

77.3

76.1

.537

.517

99.9%

0.1%

100.0%

0.2%

0.8%

It's probably not true but sometimes there seems to be an element of Forrest Gump to the Giants. "Look, Jen-ayee, I found an ace. Oh, I found two! I'll just sit on this bench and what is this? A World Series ring?"